mes to, he'll tell the others."

"Not he. It was only his gammon to frighten us into speaking if we were
there."

"Ramsden, ahoy!" came again from below; and then from a distance came
another hail, which the same voice answered--evidently from some
distance below the mouth of the cave.

"Ramsden! Here, my man; come along, they're not in there."

"Hear that, Jem? Mr Jones."

"Oh yes, I hear," growled Jem. "He don't know yet; but wait a bit till
old Ram tells him."

"We couldn't slip out yet, Jem?"

"No; o' course not. They'd see us now. Look!"

Jem was about to draw back, but feeling that a movement might betray
them, Don held him fast, and they stood there in the shadow of the cave,
looking on, for the boatswain's head appeared as he drew himself up the
precipitous place, and then stepped on the shelf.

"Here, come out, sir! Are you asleep? Hah!"

He caught sight of the prostrate sailor, and bent down over him.

"Why, Ramsden, man!" he cried, as he tore open his sailor's shirt and
placed his hand upon his throat.

Then, starting up, he sent forth a tremendous hail.

"Ahoy!"

"Ahoy!" came back from several places, like the echoes of his call.

"Come on here! Quick!" he shouted, with his hands to his mouth.

"Ahoy!" came from a distance; and from nearer at hand, "Ay, ay, sir; ay,
ay!"

From where Don and Jem stood they could see the boatswain's every
movement, as, after once more feeling the sailor's throat and wrist, he
bent over him and poured water from his bottle between his lips, bathed
his forehead and eyes, and then fanned him with his hat, but without
effect.

Then he looked out anxiously and hailed again, the replies coming from
close by; and soon after first one and then another sailor, whose faces
were quite familiar, climbed up to the shelf, when the boatswain
explained hastily how he had left his companion.

"Some one knocked him down?" said one of his men.

"No; he's not hurt. I should say it's a fit. More water. Don't be
afraid!"

Each of the men who had climbed up carried a supply, and a quantity was
dashed over Ramsden's face with the effect that he began to display
signs of returning consciousness, and at last sat up and stared.

"What's matter, mate?" said one of the men, as Don prepared to hurry
back into the darkness, but longed to hear what Ramsden would say.

It was a painful moment, for upon his words seemed to depend their
safety.

"Matter? I don't know